Caesarean General Chatter & Discussion #7

Monnie, so sorry to hear about your horrible experience. For what it's worth, it sounds like the midwife is profoundly uncomfortable with the theatre environment and was glossing over it to make herself feel better. I would recommend speaking to the boss of the midwives at the hospy to air your concerns - as the last thing any woman needs is someone being flippant.

Sehra, I understand if you have a history of UTIs that you'd be worried about it. Asking for it after the epidural is good, but also maybe speak to the drs about it before the procedure as they might like to give you some preventative antibiotics or something, given your history. Even if they don't, you will have had your concerns heard and hopefully a useful reply from the dr.

Sehra, just so you know, you do not have to have the catheter. I know it's pretty much unheard of and it probably does make things easier afterwards but I had my c section without a cathertar ever going near me. I had specified too that if I had one it was to go in after the epi, but in recovery when I asked the nurses if I had one she told me no. So yep, it is possible.

Those comments were totally uncalled for, I would be making a complaint, To assume that you were 'too posh to push' is completely inappropriate. It should not matter why you are having a section, those reasons are between you and your OB. I am of the understanding that all health care workers are there to give you the most positive birth experience possible. That sort of rubbish is wrong and only serves to make the mum feel bad which may lead to problems down the track. Sorry to pop in but I just thought I would have a 'sticky beak' and I just had to butt in.

In a section you may have a sheet tucked around your legs to stop them falling off the bed, because you can't feel them, plus the bed is on a tilt. Stockings may or may not be worn depending on surgeon's preferences and your history. Definately ask for the catheter to be inserted after the spinal. You may have arm boards out each side, it may be easier to have one arm straight as you will have a drip, but it all depends where it is positioned. Hats are for infection control as someone said, maybe she was trying to lighten the mood with her comments but it sounds like she had the opposite effect for some. Everyone has to do what is best for them and their baby and it needs to be made as positive as possible.

Anyway, rant over, some midwives really should think about what they say and how it affects others

Thanks so much guys

Your responses were so supportive...

I'm feeling much better about it all now...had a little time to process it...

I think the midwife was probably trying to be 'funny'...which lots of people found funny...but because of our situation, we didn't find it funny at all...just insensitive.

Thankfully we go back to our normal midwife next week...she's a little more boring, but at least she's sensitive...

I think that sometimes it's easy to become flippant in something you see every day...without realising that it's a huge deal for some people...

I'm so glad I found this thread...thanks so much for your support and sharing your experiences...it's made a huge difference just to feel validated!

Thanks guys!

I've got another question...

I've been reading a book about c-sections and one of the things it talks about is trying to make the whole experience less medical and more personalised...

...things like asking to have the lights dimmed, having your own music playing in the background, having skin-to-skin contact as soon as possible, lowering the screen, etc...

Has anyone ever had any luck in these requests being listened to?

And...who would you negotiate this with? Your Ob.? Head midwife?

Thanks again!

I think if you don't have a catheter you are more prone to get a UTI. I didnt have one for my first c-section and ended up with a shocking UTI because you cant get up so you hold for longer and also you cant feel when your bladder is full for a while. I really wanted one for the second and it was all good. Didnt feel it at all and had no UTI. Everyone is different though with what they want.

Monnie, Sorry to hear about your terrible time at your class. Hubby dresses like a surgeon and I wasnt tied to the bed but apparently the bed is sloped (you wont fall out though). I'm assuming you would like to have the baby naturally but if it is not possible I think if you do some reading and know exactly what is going to happen from start to end you will be a lot more relaxed about it. My c-section was a positive experience because I talked to the ob about it and did lots of reading.

We must of been posting at the same time Monnie.

The ob has catered for all our requests. I wanted skin to skin contact and got it. Of course if there are problems with the baby's breathing you wont be able to do this ( which is the same in a natural birth). Hubby wanted to cut the cord and he got to do that. Having bub in recovery is something that a lot of people want. I personally didnt want this but if you do you can ask about that too.

Thanks Linda...that's really helpful...and hopeful!!!

I'm seeing my Ob. in 2 weeks and hope to sit down and talk to him about this...

I've been doing lots of reading too...found this good book called "Delivery by appointment" which is written by an Australian journalist who has had 4 kids via c-section...it's really well balanced...

Thanks again for your advice...

Hi Monnie,
I'm glad you're feeling a little better about it all. Those requests would be best negotiated with your Ob. I asked a Mid for skin-to-skin contact (emergency c-sect) and got told no due to infection control! What a load of bullocks! LOL. Anyway, ask your Ob - they are essentially in charge in the theatre and, although they do have to have to "abide" by hospital policies, they can essentially "rule the roost" in theatre.
If your Ob does say you can have skin to skin contact - just be prepared that in the unlikely event that bubs needs immediate attention - you may not get that contact until they are ok (just as would happen in a vaginal delivery).


I hope you get your requests!

MG

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ok bossy miss :lol:

I will update later just to please his aunty Nic :lol:

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Thanks :) I notice you have changed it.. :) He looks toasty now.. now go give my nephew cuddles

only if you give mine big cuddles
hope to see ya all next sunday :)

Monnie, What an awful midwife! I would make a complaint about her too!
As for the birthplan with a c/s, I'm sure there was a thread about that on here somewhere? Brooke, did you have your birthplan written up in that thread? I mean't to print it out, and keep for future reference one day.

Nic

Here's the thread with the C/S birth plans in it:
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad.php?t=35046

(I book marked it so I can go back to it once I'm feeling ready).

Cheers...thanks Marydean...I'll check it out!

Oh Monnie I really feel for you I know what it's like to be judged for having a c/s it makes me so angre especially when at the end of the day it's about having a healthy baby!
I had an emergency c/s with my first after expecting I would deliver like a normal mother, I felt like a falure and it took me along time to get over the emotional trauma, I kept going over it in my head wondering what if I did this or this, I've just come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter my son is healthy and that's what matters.
I went for an elective the second time around and OMG it was such a differnt experience I was calm, prepared, I knew what was going to hapen. When I went to the hospital on D day I had time to settle into my room then prepare for surgury, I was so excited about the birth I don't remember the funny hats it wasn't something that I focused on, I also wasn't strapped to the bed, I was fully concious unlike my emergency-c dh was there I saw baby come out and they turned her around to show me what sex she was. Funny thing is I saw my ob and aneathatist(sp?) and didn't notice the midwives or nurses although they were all brilliant. recovery was so much quicker too.
All I am trying to say is that it's still a beautiful experience. Planning and educating yourself on c/s is the best thing you can do, I know it'll be a wonderful experience for you if not exactly what you planned.

A 98% epidural rate and over 50% caesar rate? Sounds like she should be working in another hospital - that is shocking. I'm sorry she made you feel so bad, Monnie, it was obviously her (bad) attempt at humour. However, it must be tough working in a hospital with such high intervention rates and I can imagine it must be quite frustrating to deal with that on a daily basis. However, I don't believe in the 'too posh to push' label at all, that is not on, and definately worth a comment to someone. Women choose to do what is best for them based on information from their ob - whether that is medically indicated or not.

I have been out of Australia for many years now. When I left, I was all for natural birth and didn't believe in c-sections unless they were absolutely necessary. I think that comes from the general peer pressure that we listen to every day there.

Now, I have a completely different opinion because here in Istanbul, c-sections are the norm. Many expats here request a natural birth, but the doctor always gives an excuse and says a c-section is required at the last minute.

I feel sorry for Monnie. Why should anyone be made to feel bad about having a c-section, regardless of the reason?

In November, I am planning to come back to Australia for the birth of my baby. I was actually thinking of opting for a c-section. Is that possible now in Australia in the public health care system or can I only opt for a c-section under private health care?

reading this thread especially what happened to you 'monnie' has really scared me. This is my second pregnancy, had natural birth with first seven years ago, this time around I've already organised elective cesarean with my private ob due to personal reasons.

I feel there are a lot of people out there ready to personally attack you regarding elective c-sections and it makes me angry. I've had a lady GP personally attack me about this topic already. I believe its no one else's body and if the mum is happy with that birth plan and her ob is happy the mum shouldn't have to explain herself to anyone else, its no-one else's business. i have heard and also read a few stories about midwives being nasty to mums in hospital if they elected to have a cesarean. I have chosen sjog hospital in subiaco Perth, and hoping i wont get treated nasty when I'm there. I get really intimidated and get upset easily.

I have never heard of this 'wearing stockings'? its sounds strange, why would you have to wear them?

Australicat, it is very politically incorrect to ask for a C/S in the public hospital system since the system regards VB the better (less expensive option). Depending on what state you are planning to be in, you could read up on some hospital/health dept policies to find out what the likely response will be. However, without a previous history or a strong indicative medical indication, you are less likely to be able to request a C/S in the public system. So I'd say it might be a good idea for you to consider a backup plan in the private hospital system, where really they will do anything if you are prepared to pay!!

Casscart, I have had nothing but support and kindness from all the staff I've talked to at TCH here in ACT. They've even written thru my notes my intention that while I'll be there to birth a baby it's also a powerful opportunity to heal my first VB experience and I want a mindfulness of that shown while I'm there. I'm sure I may come across one or two bad eggs who have an opinion, but quite frankly until they've lived life in my shoes, they are not entitled to comment.

BTW, I think the stockings are support stockings, used to prevent deep vein thrombosis (blood clots)..? Anyone else know for sure?

Australicat I think it depend on the hospital it can't hurt to ask nobody is going to think any less of you etc

marydean yes thats what the stockings are

Hey Casscart,

I think you'll be fine at SJOG...I've had a few friends go there with elective c/s and have been treated wonderfully...

Yep...the stockings are for the DVT...I think you actually wear them afterwards...

Hey...has anyone heard of active caesareans? Especially the maternally assisted ones...where the mother actually 'delivers' the baby...I got in contact with Birthrites and they said so far in WA, there have been three maternal assisted caesareans...something to think about....

Hope everyone is doing well...

Hi Casscart

After reading your post I just wanted to send you all my love and support, and to let you know that the stockings also help your blood circulate while you are lying in bed.

I have Monnie. The case I read about, the mother was a nurse which was why the Ob let her do it. The Ob's in the story said they can't see it becomming a "regular" thing and that many women didn't know about it or want to be that involved in it.
There aren't suppose to be any more (or less) risks involved as the medical staff still do all the technical work - but the mother's hands were guided to the baby and she lifted them out of her womb (with a little assistance) before they took bubs to do what they needed to do.
It was certaintly food for thought when I read about it.

Hi guys! I just had my monthly OB visit today and was given an unconfirmed date for my C, as it has to fit in with dr's schedule of course he first wanted to do it on the 11/1 EEK! making me 38 weeks but then he thought that the baby could be a little imature at that date so had to go with the 16th at 7am making me 39weeks exactly and as it'll be my 3rd C if I go into labour early I'll have to RUN to the hospital (yeah right!). I was wondering what gestation were or will you be if your having or had a planned C? is 39 weeks normal? I was 39 weeks with my second but I had talked my ob into letting me have a short trial labour should I go into labour naturaly.

With my daughter it was 39 weeks but she decided to make a early appearance and came at 38 weeks 2 days. So this c-section is booked for 38 weeks and 3 days so this should be interesting. My husband has a 2 day bucks weekend on the day im 38 weeks so Im trying not to freak out.

I know my OB does them at 37 weeks :dunno: why but he trys to schedule electives between 37-38 weeks

ok quick question I had what is called the modern cut and stitch up as in no external stiches anyway I healed real well etc does anyone know what i am talking about so i can explain to my friend who had traditional c-sect

i did too hun - i had a running stitch that the pulled out the day i came home and I had steri-strips and thats it - not quite sure how they do it - stitched from the inside i guess!!

I was told it was soemthing ot do with they dont stich the muscle wall as such they allow natural healing anyway I am trying to find some info for her and thought their may have been a name for the cut and the way the finish besides modern c-sect etc

Not sure - sorry! Hope you find something! I know the old cuts up the belly were called vertical and the new cuts now are called transverse but thats it!!

If you find out I would be interested so please pass on the info.

I had a running stitch for my first and stapples for my second I soooo don't recomend the staples they hurt when comming out and I feel like the skin/nerve area tool longer to heal.

My ob was going to do it at 38 weeks but he thought that might be a little early not that one week at the end should make a difference should it? it's still subject to change though

Oh also with an elective do you meet with the aneathatist before the op? and any other pre preperations? I'm going to St Vincent private in Melbourne

Hi everyone,

New in here...having my first c/s on the 3rd Sept...didn't know this thread existed so am very glad to have found you all as I'm not that keen to be having a c/s but not left with a whole lot of choices (LOL). have only read a couple of your postings and thought I would reply to one of them...I will be bombarding you all with some of my own so, thought I would repay first then ask later :)

Tiff - some ob's prefer to c/s at 39 weeks mostly because it decreases the chance of the baby suffering respiratory distress. Please forgive me if this has already been covered and you know this. I think I am being done at around the 38.5 week point. Haven't checked that out yet so guess what I am going to do now....!

Will be posting some questions for you all soon.

Thanks,

Lynnette x

Interesting q about the dates CS are done. Mine's book for 39wks exactly, but since they already fiddled my dates (due to U/S) by my calculations it will be more like 38.5. I raised this with the OB but I got scared when they talked about possibly going into labour and having to wait for surgery space to become available, so am sticking with the date they have given me.

Tiff, I understand on the day of the procedure, you will meet with the ob who coordinates the CS list for the day, as well as seeing the anaesthetist (or one of their assistants?) briefly just prior. This is your opportunity to ask any last minute q's you might have. Take all the time you need at earlier OB appts to ask about what happens, etc, I have done this a couple of times and come away feeling quite reassured.

Re the types of stitches, at my hospy it depends entirely on who the OB who attends is, as they all have their preferred methods. I would imagine if one was a stand-out as the "best" across a variety of situations then it would be used more commonly.

ok managed to find the info, well a friend whose hubby is a surgical nurse explained it for us

the newer method, which is now used in most abdominal surgery. The method is different to the old method in that far less stitching is done, which allows a little more room for movement, with far less pulling and inflammation. The old method is where every layer is stitched on the way out. Uterus (double stitched), peritoneum, muscle, rectus, fat (sometimes) and then skin. The new method is the uterus (double stitched), rectus and then skin. They also sometimes do a single loop through the fat to help stabilise the skin stitch and give less a scar, but this makes little difference to the pain as there are few receptors in the fat layer. The overall effect is supposed to be less pain in recovery, mostly from not stitching the muscle layer

thanks guys this is great having you all on hand to ask what seam strange questions. :hugs:
My ob visits are monthly at the moment and all my questions come AFTER I see him :lol: at my last visit he booked me into his diary for the 16th but said he would let me know for sure and the details at my next visit then briefly mentioned the aneathatist so I kind of went away with things still buzzing in my head :lol:
I had a planned c/s with my second but it was in Darwin at the Darwin private hospital and this one is in Melbourne so I wasn't sure of the procedures plus it's been 6 years and I don't remember the details very well.

wow thanks Rach75! not sure about the fat part, they can cut that out for me :lol:

Another question :lol: sorry... I was wondering about what method of anethstetic used? I had an emergency with my first and they attempted to give me an epidural but couldn't get the needle in after trying 7 times! so I was given full anethstetic but with my second I had a spinal block on the operating table which worked first go and it was fantastic as i was awake for the birth. Does anyone know if their is a "prefered" method or less risky? I have heard people say they've had problems with epidurals not working on one side during labour.

my only problem with the epidural is it took a while fo rthe feeling in my feet to return which meant longer in recovery

my sister goes numb right up to her face #2 son, yet she had it again with #3 son and will have it again with #4 in dec

Ok I'm a nurse and haven't worked in maternity or recovery.... but wow I am surprised they allow babies in recovery ! I'm assuming not all the patients in recovery are from C/s and to have the added responsibility of watching over your other patients and a mother and baby would be a bit unnerving for me. As a nurse you focus on making sure the mother is ok, what if she got a blood clot and needed a code cart ? Here I'd have to deal with where to put the baby as well as deal with the care of the mom. I do know "some" nurses in maternity can be evil and I don't agree with ANYONE being rude (nurses or patients) but my concern would be for the wellbeing and healthy of the mother. I want to breastfeed too and I'm having a c-section (twins due) but I'd rather be a living mom breast feeding my babies than a dead one. Recovery is just that... recover from MAJOR ABDOMINAL surgery and they need to know you are ok prior to the floor....

HEATHER

Hi Heather, I understand your point of view as I think for a nurse you are right.

I have had 2 c-sections and each time I was not allowed to have bub in recovery with me. For me though I didnt want them in recovery. I dont think that is fair on the other patients. Maybe c-section woman should have another room for their recovery so they can have bub in with them. For my last c-section there was a woman beside me who wasnt too good and like you said they had to get things done quite quickly and there was a fair bit of movement and noise at one point. Each time I was shaking quite a bit (from my body being in shock I was told, but I think those recovery rooms are too cold) so I prefered for them to go with my husband. He did a great job both times. I must admit though each time I was busting to get to my room so I could feed my precious little one. I breast fed # 1 for 18 months and # 2 is still breastfed at 4 months. I had no trouble bonding or breastfeeding because of recovery but I totally understand woman who do.

A lot mothers find being forced away from their baby immediately after the birth quite traumatic, wether it be C-section or a complication during a vaginal birth.

It's difficult because it is major surgery and from the point of view of the nurse it probably would be extra pressure, especially if something was to go wrong in recovery.

Hi all, you have all made me think back abit with my c/s's. While waiting for them to deliver my DD, I was just laying there and decided to look up to where the light is, and thought wouldn't you have thought they would clean that before they operate on me, as there was blood all over it. Anyway it wasn't until afterwards that I had found out that I had lost a bit of blood while being operated on, so it was mine. I don't recall having the anti-spew stuff. I had the shakes too, and was telling one of the op room nurses that I couldnt stop shaking and this male nurse, was so nice and said, I will race and get you another blanket. How nice was that. Anyway, another nurse had said it wasn't from me being cold, so I didn't need the blanket. hehehe. I also had one of the Dr's say to me, that this other Dr who was helping him had cut his finger in me, and I didn't think of what he could have passed onto me at the time, all I could think of was - How could he have cut himself on me, I felt so terrible, thinking that this Dr had hurt himself on me. Stupid I know, but I wasn't really all there. Anyway this Dr said he had to now do a Bllod test on the Dr and on me. So yippee, that was news I really wanted to hear. Didn't hear anything back from them anyway. They did do the test tho.

With my younest, had general so did not get to experience her birth. Which I must admit took alittle while to feel closer to her. Thinking it was due to the general that did that? Just didn't seem the same to not be awake to witness your babies first breath. I was just glad that my DH had his trun of being the first to see our baby.

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to say that my SIL had an elective c/sect in a public hospital on the Gold Coast and her baby was with her the entire time. They were never apart even in recovery. She insisted on it. Lucky for her as well she was first on the theatre list for c/sects that day, so it was so fast she didnt even realise. I think this has been essential in her recovery emotionally from the operation. As with her previous emergency c/sect bubs was away from her for the hour or so in recovery, and she felt this impacted her.

I am overdue with an oddly positioned baby, I cross my fingers each day that she will stay in a Vaginal delivery position, but I also am a lot more educated on c-sects thanks to this thread. At least if worst case scenario I have a caesar, I can understand important aspects of it.

Jac